Tom and Anne Smith MD-PhD Program

Giving

Tom and Anne Smith

To help break the scientific bottleneck that keeps the latest research from reaching patients, the University of Missouri School of Medicine has created the Tom and Anne Smith MD-PhD Program. Tom and Anne Smith of Columbia, Mo., are providing $2 million in scholarship support for MU students who want to become physician-scientists.

Generous giving such as the Smiths’ helps the university play a more significant role in the exciting evolution of medical research, training and patient care. MU envisions building a much stronger and larger MD-PhD program by providing scholarships that will pay for the medical education component of the program. While the PhD portion of education is generally covered by other funding sources that support research, the MD component costs most students approximately $25,000 a year in tuition alone.

“Anne and I believe that MD-PhD students deserve support in their pursuit to provide all of us with improved health care and quality of life,” said Tom Smith. “For MD-PhD students, a joint degree is a time-consuming and costly venture, but there are great potential rewards by giving students an opportunity to develop lifesaving treatments.”

Tom Smith received a computer science degree from MU in 1984 and went on to found Datastorm Technologies, a software development company headquartered in Columbia. He is the president of Smith Investment Management, Flat Branch Pub and Brewing, and Sirius Hospitality LLC, which owns the HuHot Mongolian Grill franchise in Columbia and St. Louis.

MD-PhD Gift Announcement

The Smiths, who are deeply devoted to preserving and protecting animals, also support the University Concert Series and have previously established a scholarship endowment in computer science in the College of Arts and Science at MU. In addition, Mr. Smith currently serves as a trustee for the Missouri Chapter of the Nature Conservancy.

Contact

Sue Dunkin, Executive Director
University of Missouri Medical School Foundation
(573) 882-5371
1 (866) 260-4517 (toll-free)
One Hospital Drive, DC 205.00
Columbia, MO 65212
DunkinS@health.missouri.edu

Marshanna Gresham
Program Adminstrator
M263 Medical Sciences Building
University of Missouri Health Care
One Hospital Drive
Columbia, MO 65212
Phone: (573) 884-4074
greshammk@health.missouri.edu